Hydraulic Press Control Block With Safe Fluid Path Modularity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic press control systems, while meeting basic safety standards, lack the capability to control additional motion sequences and functions while maintaining safety regulations, particularly the German industrial standard DIN EN 693.
Innovation Solution
A control block design where the pressure chamber of a consumer is directly connected to a monitored hold-up valve and directional valve in series, with no additional valves between them, ensuring a safe fluid path with limited inflows and outflows through nozzles, and allowing for additional control functions via an external intermediate block without compromising safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional control valves are integrated into the fluid path for controlling motion sequences, then the control functionality and versatility of the press is improved, but the safety reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of failures and leakage paths
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into a basic control block containing only safety-critical components (monitored hold-up valve and monitored directional valve) and additional control functions are separated into external intermediate blocks. This segmentation ensures that the core safety fluid path remains simple and reliable while allowing functional expansion through modular additions that do not compromise the basic safety architecture.
2Reliability
If a simple basic control system is used, then the safety reliability is maintained, but the control functionality for additional motion sequences is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
External intermediate blocks serve as intermediaries between the basic control block and the consumer, enabling additional control functions without directly interfering with the safety-critical fluid path. These intermediate blocks can be inserted or removed based on functional requirements, allowing the system to maintain safety compliance while achieving the necessary control capability for specific applications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valves are placed in series in the fluid path, then additional control functions are enabled, but the device complexity and risk of failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into a compact basic control block with minimal series-valve configuration for safety, and additional control functions are placed in separate external intermediate blocks. This segmentation reduces the complexity of the core safety path while enabling motion sequence control through modular additions that can be configured based on specific application requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the control of additional press functions beyond basic operations while maintaining safety standards, ensuring safe fluid paths and limiting upward and downward set-up speeds, thus enhancing the operational flexibility and safety of hydraulic presses.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic control system for a hydraulic press is known which complies with the aforementioned German industrial standard
Implementation Method 2
a self-monitoring safety valve of the 2/2 switching valve type... A self-monitoring hold-up valve of 2/2 switching valve design is connected to the consumer's annular chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A hydraulic control block for a press is disclosed, consisting of a base block with a hold-up valve (4) connected to a port for a first selected pressure chamber (R) of a hydraulic press consumer (1). A directional valve (10) is connected to the directional valve downstream of the first pressure chamber port. This directional valve selectively directs a pressure medium from a pressure medium port (connectable to a pump (P)) located downstream of the directional valve (10), via the hold-up valve (4), to the first pressure chamber port (R) or to a port for a second counter-pressure chamber (K), in order to enable predetermined basic movement and safety functions. According to the invention, a safe fluid path is defined in the base block, consisting of the first pressure chamber port (R), the hold-up valve (4), and the directional valve (10), into which either no inflows or only flow-limited or limited inflows open.